when many believe the religion to be in crisis. here is cbs news correspondent allen pizzey reporting from rome. >> reporter: with his brief announcement in latin, benedict set a modern peres sent that ensures his successor cans take the same path. as one cardinal put it-- he broke a taboo. catholics around the world reacted with surprise, some sadness but overall there was a sense that benedict had done the right thing for himself and the church. >> it's quite an act of humility for the pope to realize he can no longer physically and mentally discharge the duties of his author. >> even as benedict's legacy is being debated, the struggle for succession has begun behind the scenes. latin americans feel their time has come and there are several strong candidates, including cardinal leonardo sandri of argentina. the region is home to 42% of the world's catholics and the church needs a bulwark against gains made by evangelical christians. africa has the fastest-growing catholic population. ghanaian cardinal peter turkson, who's only 64, tops many lists to be the first black pope

. >> it lets us down. it feels like we don't have a leader, someone that leads by the catholic religion. >> i disagree. i think it's for the good for all masses. he wants to be fully functional 100%. >> right. >> to all. and if he can't conform to the duties of the pope then he should step aside and -- >> i want to understand what catholicism means to you personally. >> catholicism and christianity is you live it. it's not just, gee, i believe this, and i'm going to sit in the corner. >> sometimes the dogmas are just too strict for me. i do believe in compassion but i think, you know i'm a little more open with choice. i think, you know a woman's right to choose, that goes against the catholic church. >> i don't believe in abortion. however, in this society now, i'm just not going to tell somebody else you can't do it, you know. and that kind of puts -- that puts you at odds with your own beliefs. in this society, you have to be more or less politically correct. >> it's evolved. the catholic religion has not. >> when you go to p.c. you don't have a conversation like this. i mean, it's c